On trial are Thomas Petch, 22, of Parkhouse Farm, Dunsdale; Jason Crossling, alleged to be known as BJ, 32, of Fairfield Road, Middlesbrough; and George "Chuckie" Coleman, 41, of Thornton Street, North Ormesby.

All three deny murdering Mr Singh, 41, of Croydon Road, Middlesbrough, and causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Michael Moody at a house in Errol Street in the town on August 6 last year.

Coleman and Petch also deny further charges alleging aggravated burglary at a house in Southfield Road and wounding two other men, Paul Ward and Andrew Jessop, with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Petch also denies a further charge of wounding Paul Thompson with intent at a house in the Newport area the following day.

All the offences, claimed Andrew Robertson QC, prosecuting, were committed along with two men not in the dock - Jonathan Crossling, Jason Crossling's brother, who he alleged is also known as Bam Bam, and Lee Harrison.

Jonathan Crossling, he told the jury, was awaiting extradition from Spain while Harrison was "still at large".

Mr Robertson claimed that the gang of men had set off on a campaign of "wanton, gratuitous violence" in houses in central Middlesbrough while seeking a man called Dalziell.

Ms Burgess described picking up Mr Singh, saying he did not want sex. "He just wanted someone to talk to".

She told how they went to his house but then went to Mr Moody's home.

She told the jury that, after falling asleep in the back bedroom, the next thing she was aware of was being awakened by "BJ" and "Bam Bam" in the room shouting that they were looking for Dalziell.

"I saw them come into the room. I've known them ten or 11 years and they know me. They told me to get out. Mr Singh jumped out of bed."

She continued "I heard voices downstairs - more than one - two voices. One was Tom Petch. They were all shouting. Petch was shouting "he is not here"."

Ms Burgess said: "Bam Bam and Mr Singh were arguing. Bam Bam said "where is he?" He said he meant Dalziell. Mr Singh said he did not know what they were on about and Bam Bam started punching him.

"I could not speak. I could not move. Bam Bam started pushing him. BJ was trying to get me out of the room. He grabbed hold of me. I nearly fell. I fell on him. Bam Bam was pushing him - Mr Singh."

At this point she collapsed sobbing and the court adjourned.

When it resumed, she said: "Bam Bam was pushing Kalvant Singh towards the window."

Ms Burgess added: "The window was shut. He went straight through the glass. I did not see where he landed. I just ran. Mr Singh went through the window backwards. He yelled. I ran out of the room immediately and went downstairs."

There, she described seeing Petch bang Mr Moody's head against the fish tank shattering the glass. She said as she left the house she saw Coleman sitting in a car with the engine running.